Wisdom to Live By: A 30-day Course on Transforming you Life and Game [humor]

What if you had one month to live? What words of wisdom would you apply? About 30 days remain before the Eagle's land in their first encounter and Tigers need to hone their skills, tone their muscles and phone their agents. I have prepared a self-help course just for this special occasion by applying 30 maxims or words of wisdom to sculpt, guide and shape the course of destiny for the Tigers. These can also be used as what the cynics will say "excuses" for the appropriate occasion.

Day 2: "Some have been thought brave because they were afraid to run away." -Thomas Fuller

Running between the wicket should not be the only option.

Day 3: "If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic."- Jesus

If you get hit on shin pad, turn your other shin. If you get sledged, smile.

Day 4: "I have never let schooling interfere with my education."- Mark Twain

Is it worth paying heed to coaches and academy instructors?

Day 5: "If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day, so I never have to live without you." -A. A. Milne

Getting out on 99 should never be the end of the world. Sachin has got out on 99 countless times.

Day 6: "True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing. And in knowing that you know nothing, that makes you the smartest of all." -Socrates

Having no knowledge of the rules of game is the first step to enlightenment.

Day 7 : "When the heart grieves over what it has lost, the spirit rejoices over what it has left." - Sufi saying

On why getting a duck should not be frowned upon.

Day 8:"A wise man is he who does not grieve for the thing which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has." -Epictetus

So what if Lara made 400, but you didn't? So what if Afridi has the fastest century and you don't? Are you happy with your 23* or 15 against Canada?

Day 9: "To be satisfied with a little, is the greatest wisdom; and he that increaseth his riches, increaseth his cares; but a contented mind is a hidden treasure, and trouble findeth it not." -Akhenaton

What is your lowest score? Have you not taken a wicket today?

Day 10: "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." -Emerson
Is it written on stone tablet that chasing team's run rate worm HAS TO match the target one?

Day 11: "It is not the man who has too little, but the man who craves more, that is poor."- Seneca

Why are you so obsessed with scoring or why is such an hunger for runs or wickets? Simplify!

Day 12:"Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding the 20th." -Julie Andrews

Or as I call it the rule of 19. Has the streak of single-digit score crossed 19 yet? Has the batsman waited for 19 deliveries?

Day 13: "If everything is coming your way you are probably on the wrong lane."-Anonymous

As they say, be careful what you wish for. Do you really believe reaching that milestone of 401 runs will make you a better person?

Day 14: "It ain't over till it's over."-Yogi Berra

There is a reason for presentation ceremony or ICC giving monetary awards for longest six. Just because opposition crossed the target doesn't mean the game is over.

Day 15:"Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do."- John Wooden

Focus on what talent you have and not talents others have.

Day 16: "See everything; overlook a great deal; correct a little."-Pope John XXIII

Love yourself! Love yourself! Love yourself! Wasn't it the message of Jesus and other sages? Don't be too harsh on yourself? Divine are those who accepts themselves for who they are.Day 17: "Do you wish to rise? Begin by descending. You plan a tower that will pierce the clouds? Lay first the foundation of humility."-Saint Augustine

When Warne bowls to you, are you even worth the dust of his toe-nails? How humble are you? Today practice killing your ego.

Day 18: "Nothing is more despicable than respect based on fear." -Albert Camus

When players like Gayle or Gilchrist comes down the track and commentator jibes that he has no respect whatsoever for the bowler have you stopped to ask if the respect is duly deserved or simply leeched from fear?

Day 19: "The greatest cut is the one without drawing a sword." -Samurai saying

...And the greatest shot is the one not taken.

Day 20:"In great attempts it is glorious even to fail."- Vincent Lombardi

The man did know a thing or two about coaching a team that wins.

Day 21: "Rest: the sweet sauce of labor." -Plutarch

What good is it if you burn out when you go to perform?

Day 22: "It means a great deal to those who are oppressed to know that they are not alone. And never let anyone tell you that what you are doing is insignificant."- Bishop Desmond Tutu
Just because someone doesn't appreciate your snail pace innings of 100 ball 21 run does not mean it is any less of an achievement than Sehwag's 21 ball 100.

Day 23: "Never mistake activity for achievement. " John Wooden

Work smart not hard. Practicing under the sun whole day will not always take you to your goal.

Day 24: Crave for a thing, you will get it. Renounce the craving, the object will follow you by itself. -Swami Sivananda

There is more to life and happiness than breaking the "next world record".

Day 25: "A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others." -Ayn Rand

Are you more concerned with beating your opposition or your own individual goals for personal happiness?

Day 26: "Edison failed 10,000 times before he made the electric light. Do not be discouraged if you fail a few times."- Napoleon Hill

Have you failed today?
Day 27: "In doing Nothing, a Sage get all things done." -Lao Tsu

Have you ditched a game and gone for fishing instead?

Day 28: "A "No" uttered from the deepest conviction is better than a "Yes" merely uttered to please, or worse, to avoid trouble." -Gandhi

On why an appeal not given should be a reason to embrace and not be embarrassed.

Day 29: "Success is dangerous. One begins to copy oneself, and to copy oneself is more dangerous than to copy others. It leads to sterility."- Picasso
On why a loss should never matter.

Day 30: "In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends." -MLK Jnr.

On the virtue of hearing pin-drop silence in the stadium after your departure from crease.

__________________> Start slow. Build a base. Then explode.
> I needed to perform so that I could give my countrymen an occasion to cherish and be proud of - Ice Man> My photographs @ flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/obayedh/